July 19, 2020
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Gospel for this week, known as the Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat (Mt. 13:24-43), is a continuation of the Parable of the Sower from last week which describes the cultivation of the word of God on different types of soil.
Like last week, Jesus first tells the parable to the crowd which has gathered (Mt. 13:24-30), then later offers a full explanation of the weeds among the wheat to his disciples in a private setting (Mt. 13:36-43). Calling himself the “Son of Man,” the divine representative of God from the Book of Daniel (Dan. 7:13), Jesus is the sower who plants seeds in the field which is the world. The “good seeds” are the children of God who accept the word of Jesus, whereas the “weeds” are evil people planted by the devil who grow intertwined with the crops.
At the end of the age, the Son of Man sends his angels as harvesters to collect the children of the kingdom, the righteous who will shine in the presence of the Father. While the weeds, evildoers and the ones who cause others to sin, will be burned in a fiery furnace “where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” (Mt. 13:42b).
The message that this parable conveys concerning the kingdom of heaven may seem harsh and foreboding. It may also lead to apprehension if we consider the possibility of the bleak and sinister afterlife which awaits us when we apply it to our own sinful lives. We all experience moments of selfishness and weakness not aligned with the will of God or have times when we are tempted by the evil one to sin and, perhaps, entice others to follow our poor example.
However, this is where we see the beauty of our lectionary-based readings for Mass. It is a good example of the importance of considering the whole of scripture when trying to determine the meaning of a single passage instead of looking at it on its own in isolation from other parts of the Bible.
Consider the other passages we hear today, beginning with the First Reading from the Book of Wisdom (Wis. 12: 13, 16-19). This is a collection of short sayings written shortly before the first century AD which can provide background for the teachings of Jesus. This particular passage reminds us that the omnipotence of God allows for lenience and compassion toward even the worst of sinners. Our God cares for all and, although mighty in power, God’s “mastery over all things makes [God] lenient to all.” (Wis.12:16b).
The Responsorial Psalm for today (Ps. 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16) holds a theme similar to the First Reading. It assures us that when we contritely seek reconciliation for our sins acknowledging our need for God’s pity, then we can be confident in the wondrous deeds of our ever-loving and forgiving God. Thus, we sing: “Lord, you are good and forgiving, most merciful to all who call on you. You are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in mercy and truth.” (Ps. 86:5, 15).
So why the dire warning of Jesus when these other passages suggest that God extends mercy and forgiveness to all? The answer to this question comes from the reason for the use of parables. These stories are not intended to be “warm and fuzzy” anecdotes which make us feel good about ourselves. Nor are they meant to be pleasant, mundane tales with a happy ending. Rather, they are designed to shock us out of complacency and make us feel uncomfortable enough to seriously examine their meaning for our own lives.
Accordingly, with sincere contemplation and a firm belief in the cross of Christ, this parable teaches us that, as sinners, we are unable to obtain eternal happiness through any effort of our own. Rather, this occurs through the work of our heavenly Father, the tender mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit, who St. Paul tells us comes to the “aid of our weakness and intercedes according to God’s will.” (Rom. 8:26a, 27b).
This is the one and only way that we, the weeds among the wheat, become the good seeds and children of God welcomed into the kingdom of heaven.
